Karnataka Fisheries Development Corporation (KFDC) is planning to set up 20 fish markets in rural areas of coastal Karnataka.
Speaking on the sidelines of a programme to inaugurate a fish market at Kemral village in Mangalore taluk on Monday, V.K. Shetty, Managing Director of KFDC, said that 20 markets are being set up in coastal Karnataka under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.
These markets provide better and clean marketing facilities to market fish. Each of these markets is being constructed at a cost of Rs 10 lakh, he said.
KFDC has built markets in Kodibag, Amdalli and Avarsa in Uttara Kannada district; Varamballi, Moodbelle, Hejamadi, Koteshwara and Hunsemakki in Udupi district, and in Bajpe in Dakshina Kannada district under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana till now. They have been handed over to the respective village panchayats for maintenance.
Kemral is the second market to be opened in Dakshina Kannada district, he said.
Nalin Kumar Kateel, Mangalore MP, said the entry of major companies to retail segment has created competition. In such a situation, there is a need to improve the condition of rural markets. The opening of modern fish markets in rural areas by KFDC is a new beginning in this regard, he said.
Abhayachandra Jain, Karnataka Minister for Fisheries, said the local village panchayats should play an active role in the proper maintenance of these new markets.
Apart from constructing fish markets, the Government will also take initiatives to dredge silts from fisheries harbours in the state. Steps will also be taken to improve the condition of link roads to fisheries harbours, he said.
Plans are there to construct a new fisheries harbour at Kulai in New Mangalore, and to improve the condition of fisheries harbours at Koderi and Hangarkatta in coastal Karnataka, he added.